Black and white image of Australian soldiers s Studying a model of the terrain of Messine Ridge during World War One. messines, messines ridge, world war one, world war 1, australian imperial forces

School book prizes awarded to Harold Oscar Nevett (1902). Harold Oscar was born in Ballarat 3rd January 1885, the son of Oscar Horatio Arthur and Elizabeth (Dowling) Nevett. He entered Ballarat College 1894 after attending Ellerslie College III Class. Harold Oscar was Dux of the College in 1900. He went on the study Law at the University of Melbourne. He enlisted in England on 14th December 1915 and was awarded the Military Cross at Messines Ridge on 7 June 1917. After demobilisation in May 1919 he married Evelyn Kitson on 25 October in England. Harold Oscar died on 11 June 1940. Harold's brothers Arthur Hereword, Horace William and Ralph Dowling all attended Ballarat College also. Set of 7 books with Ballarat College crest embossed in gold on front cover as well as a boxed set of three titles with ballarat Crest embossed in gold on box cover. Book plate inside 1/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / Logic / VI Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1901 Book plate inside 2/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / History / V Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1900 Book plate inside 3/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / English Subjects / Third Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1896 Book plate inside 4/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / Mathematics / IV Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1898 Book plate inside 5/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / French / V Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1900 Book plate inside 6/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / English / Fifth Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1899 Book plate inside 7/8 front cover: Ballarat College crest / Languages / Upper II Form / 2nd prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1896 Book plate inside 8/8 front cover of first book in set: Ballarat College crest / Latin / V Form / 1st prize / Awarded to / O Nevett / Christmas 1900harold-oscar-nevett, book-prize, ballarat-college, arthur-hereword-nevett, horace-william-nevett, ralph-dowling-nevett

John Alexander Spence was born in Fremantle 2nd July 1893. In 1912 he joined the Australian Navy as a Stoker and was posted to H.M.A.S. Australia. He was on this ship when it sailed at the head of the convoy into Sydney Harbour in 1913. At the outbreak of WW1, his ship was sent to German New Guinea where he saw conflict with the enemy and received a gunshot wound to his hand. This required him to be returned to Australia and the Naval doctors considered him unfit for further Naval service. When his hand healed Spence joined the AIF on the 2 August 1915 and was posted to the 52nd Battalion and embarked on the “Benalla” on the 1 November 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1 June 1916 on 9 September was promoted to Corporal and the next day to Sergeant. At Messines Ridge he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. At Dernancourt, a village near Villers he was awarded the Military Medal on 6 April 1918. Subsequently he was badly injured. He had captured four German soldiers and one Officer. While marching them back to the Allied lines the Officer grabbed one of the patrol member’s gun and fired three shots at Sergeant Spence which smashed his hip. Despite his injuries Spence managed to bring the Officer down with a revolver shot. On the 30th April he was repatriated to England and admitted to the Alexandria Hospital at Cosham. He did not return to the western front as his injuries were too severe. He returned to Australia on board the Somalia arriving home on the 21st December 1919. Before joining the forces he was a prominent amateur boxer, a pupil of the renowned heavyweight Bill Doherty. During WW1 he won the Army lightweight championship, competing against professionals as well as amateurs. He defended the title successfully for three successive years. On his discharge from the Army he fought under the name of Sonny Kidson. He also turned to coaching and had remarkable success having coached the Army and Navy boxing teams. John Spence died on the 20 November 1962 at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital aged 69. Post card sized photo of 3400 Sergeant John Alexander Spence DCM, MM, 52 Battalion AIF. Photo shows medal ribbons of Distinguished Conduct Medal (awarded June 1917) and Military Medal (awarded April 1918), 2 wound stripes, 5 service stripes, 52 Battalion AIF colour patch and soft style forage cap.spence, 52 battalion, aif, dcm, mm

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Red hard covered book of 1030 pages, with 423 illustrations and maps.world war, world war one, charles bean, aif, anzac, lagnicourt, messines, ypres, menin road, polygon wood, broodseinde ridge, passchendale, hill 60, hill 70, benafay wood, hindenburg line, hooge dump, butte, bapaume, bullecourt

This volume discovers four of the five Australian Infantry Divisions expecting relief after their most depressing experience, the winter of 1916-17on the Somme.Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 - Volume IV - The AIF in France 1917 Hardcover cardboard, Chronology, Maps, Illustrationsaustralian infantry divisions, british armies, hindenburg line, bullecourt, battle of messines, battle of passchendaele, polygon wood, france, ypres, broodseinde ridge, hill 60

This volume narrates the part played by the Australian Corps in the barring of the German advance upon Amiens in 1918. It also endeavours to explain the change of outlook which enhanced the spirit and performance of Australian soldiers throughout the last year of the war. The main subject necessarily involves a more than incidental reference to the performance of the British Army in the greatest battle ever waged.During the main German offensive 1918Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 - Volume V - The AIF in France 1918 Hardcover cardboard, Illustrations, Maps, Chronologymessines, ludenorff strike, australian corp, amiens, dernancourt, battle of lys, villers bretonneux, hangard wood, somme, st. quentin, fonquebillers, lancashire fusiliers, 53rd battalion, 35th battalion, sir henry wilson, arras, battle of hazebrouck, kemmel ridge

Index, bibliography, ill (col), p.172.non-fictionOn 7 June 1917, the British Second Army launched its attack on Messines Ridge, detonating 19 giant mines beneath the German front-line positions. By the end of the day, one of the strongest positions on the Western Front had fallen, a place of such importance that the Germans had pledged to hold it at any cost. It was the greatest British victory in three years of war. The first two years of the First World War had represented an almost unending catalogue of disaster for the Australians. Messines was not only their first real victory, it was also the first test in senior command for Major General John Monash who commanded the newly formed 3rd Division and would later be hailed as Australia's greatest soldier. Messines was a baptism of fire for the 3rd Division which came into the line alongside the battle-scarred 4th Australian Division, badly mauled at Bullecourt just six weeks earlier in one of the worst defeats of the war. The fighting at Messines would descend into unimaginable savagery, a lethal and sometimes hand-to-hand affair of bayonets, clubs, bombs and incessant machine-gun fire, described by one Australian as '72 hours of Hell'. After their string of bloody defeats over 1915 and 1916, Messines would be the ultimate test for the Australians. Collapse summary world war 1914-1918- campaigns - western front, battles of messines - australian participation - 1917

Index, ill, maps, p.305.non-fictionIn the Ypres Salient, the secret struggle beneath no man's land became one of engineering, technology and science - and of carefully calculated assassination. This book reveals how this most intense of battles was fought and won. Few on the surface knew the horrific details of the tunnellers work, yet this silent, claustrophobic conflict was a barbaric struggle that raged day and night for almost two and a half years. On 7 June 1917 the most dramatic mine offensive in history at Messines Ridge opened. After Messines, the tunnellers turned to the construction of deep dugouts, structures which housed tens of thousands of troops, men for whom life on the surface had become almost untenable. Often electrically lit and ventilated, they incorporated headquarters, cookhouses, soup kitchens, hospitals, drying rooms and workshops. Hundreds were built, and thanks to the Flanders geology many still survive today, and are can be seen in photographs in this book. world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - france, world war 1914-1918 - tunnellers

Kenneth Darnton Watson was born at Bendigo on 24 May 1893 to George Darnton Watson and Adelaide Nora Holmes. He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, being selected as School Captain in 1913 and a member of the Head of the River rowing team. After finishing school, he worked as a jackaroo on Wanganella Station and later at Mt. Widderin, Skipton, Victoria. When WW1 was declared, Kenneth enlisted and after initial training at Maribyrnong, Victoria he left Australia as 2nd Lieutenant with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, to disembark at Plymouth on July 10, 1916. He took part in the Battles of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele Ridge in 1917. For his efforts in Passchendaele Ridge on 17th December he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." In 1918 he took part in the Battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel and Amiens. He returned to Australia in November 1919 and was discharged on 20th January 1920. In 1922, Kenneth Darnton Watson came to Wodonga where he purchased de Kerilleau, consisting of 2,500 acres, from Mr George Gordon. The two storey brick homestead had been built by William Huon in 1870. On 30th May 1924, he married Phyllis Emily Lenore Austin and they had four children, Ian Darnton 1925, Robert Darnton 1926 Rosemary McPherson 1929 and Faith Holmes 1931. On the land he worked hard, building fences, cattle, sheep and horse yards, and farmed Corriedale sheep, Shorthorn cattle and horses. Mr Watson was an innovative farmer, introducing modern methods of top dressing at de Kerilleau by means of an aircraft. He was also a dedicated community man. He was a member of both Albury and Wodonga Show Committees, Murray Valley Development League, No.1 Region, Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina, Albury Legacy Club, Wodonga RSL, and Wodonga Turf Club including terms as President on several of these organisations. Kenneth was also a Warden of St. Luke's Church of England, Wodonga. Kenneth served as Wodonga Shire President from 1929 to 1931, and was again elected to Council from 1943 to 1945. A most respected and valued member of the local community, Kenneth Darnton Watson died on the 4th of October 1951, aged 58. Lenore Watson lived at de Kerilleau until her death on 15th June 1984. Both are buried in Wodonga.These images are significant because they record the service of a prominent member of the Wodonga community.A collection of black of white images of Kenneth Darnton Watson of Wodonga.kenneth darnton watson, watson family wodonga, wodonga community members

This cigarette case was owned by Kenneth Darnton Watson and carried into battle during World War I. Kenneth Darnton Watson was born at Bendigo on 24 May 1893 to George Darnton Watson and Adelaide Nora Holmes. He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, being selected as School Captain in 1913 and a member of the Head of the River rowing team. After finishing school, he worked as a jackaroo on Wanganella Station and later at Mt. Widderin, Skipton, Victoria. When WWI was declared, Kenneth enlisted and after initial training at Maribyrnong, Victoria he left Australia as 2nd Lieutenant with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, to disembark at Plymouth on July 10, 1916. He took part in the Battles of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele Ridge in 1917. For his efforts in Passchendaele Ridge on 17th December he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." In 1918 he took part in the Battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel and Amiens. He returned to Australia in November 1919 and was discharged on 20th January 1920. In 1922, Kenneth Darnton Watson came to Wodonga where he purchased de Kerilleau, consisting of 2,500 acres, from Mr George Gordon. The two storey brick homestead had been built by William Huon in 1870. On 30th May 1924, he married Phyllis Emily Lenore Austin and they had four children, Ian Darnton 1925, Robert Darnton 1926 Rosemary McPherson 1929 and Faith Holmes 1931. On the land he worked hard, building fences, cattle, sheep and horse yards, and farmed Corriedale sheep, Shorthorn cattle and horses. Mr Watson was an innovative farmer, introducing modern methods of top dressing at de Kerilleau by means of an aircraft. He was also a dedicated community man. He was a member of both Albury and Wodonga Show Committees, Murray Valley Development League, No.1 Region, Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina, Albury Legacy Club, Wodonga RSL, and Wodonga Turf Club including terms as President on several of these organisations. Kenneth was also a Warden of St. Luke's Church of England, Wodonga. Kenneth served as Wodonga Shire President from 1929 to 1931, and was again elected to Council from 1943 to 1945. A most respected and valued member of the local community, Kenneth Darnton Watson died on the 4th of October 1951, aged 58. Lenore Watson lived at de Kerilleau until her death on 15th June 1984. Both are buried in Wodonga.This item is significant because it was owned by a decorated Australian serviceman and prominent member of the Wodonga community.A silver cigarette case owned by Kenneth Darnton Watson of Wodonga. The inside contains straps to hold the cigarettes in place. Both the front and back have been engraved.On front: KDW On back: 1919kenneth darnton watson, watson family wodonga, wodonga community members

This cup was awarded to Kenneth Darnton Watson when he was a boarder and competitive rower whilst completing his secondary education. Kenneth Darnton Watson was born at Bendigo on 24 May 1893 to George Darnton Watson and Adelaide Nora Holmes. He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, being selected as School Captain in 1913 and a member of the Head of the River rowing team. After finishing school, he worked as a jackaroo on Wanganella Station and later at Mt. Widderin, Skipton, Victoria. When WW1 was declared, Kenneth enlisted and after initial training at Maribyrnong, Victoria he left Australia as 2nd Lieutenant with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, to disembark at Plymouth on July 10, 1916. He took part in the Battles of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele Ridge in 1917. For his efforts in Passchendaele Ridge on 17th December he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." In 1918 he took part in the Battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel and Amiens. He returned to Australia in November 1919 and was discharged on 20th January 1920. In 1922, Kenneth Darnton Watson came to Wodonga where he purchased de Kerilleau Homestead, consisting of 2,500 acres, from Mr George Gordon. The two storey brick homestead had been built by William Huon in 1870. On 30th May 1924, he married Phyllis Emily Lenore Austin and they had four children, Ian Darnton 1925, Robert Darnton 1926 Rosemary McPherson 1929 and Faith Holmes 1931. On the land Kenneth worked hard, building fences, cattle, sheep and horse yards, and farmed Corriedale sheep, Shorthorn cattle and horses. he was an innovative farmer, introducing modern methods of top dressing at de Kerilleau by means of an aircraft. He was also a dedicated community man. He was a member of both Albury and Wodonga Show Committees, Murray Valley Development League, No.1 Region, Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina, Albury Legacy Club, Wodonga RSL, and Wodonga Turf Club including terms as President on several of these organisations. Kenneth was also a Warden of St. Luke's Church of England, Wodonga. Kenneth served as Wodonga Shire President from 1929 to 1931, and was again elected to Council from 1943 to 1945. A most respected and valued member of the local community, Kenneth Darnton Watson died on the 4th of October 1951, aged 58. Lenore Watson lived at de Kerilleau until her death on 15th June 1984. Both are buried in Wodonga.These images are significant because they record the service of a prominent member of the Wodonga community.A silver mug awarded to K D Watson as a rowing trophy in April 1909. It features the shield of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School (M.C.E.G.S.), as well as his name and the event for which it was awarded.View 1: M.C.E.G.S. April 1909 Regatta View 2: Crest of MECEGS featuring motto "Ora et Labora" View 3: BOARDERS FOUR K. D. WATSON 3kenneth darnton watson, watson family wodonga, wodonga community members

This photograph depicts the third battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele). Depicted is a trench battlefield that has been turned to mud. Two army tank vehicles have been buried in the mud of the trenches. A single soldier stands in the background surveying the battlefield.After mid-1917, and following mutinies in the over-strained French Army, the British Forces had to assume an even greater role in the war on the Western Front. For Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, this provided an opportunity to launch an offensive that he had long wanted. Attacking from Ypres in Belgium, he planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding dominant ridges and even hoped to reach the Belgian coast. Following on the success at Messines in June, he unleashed his great attack on 31 July 1917. Fighting went on, often in appalling weather and despite crippling losses, until November. Finally, with the army stuck in muddy fields churned up by the artillery fire, the bloody offensive came to an untidy close. Many would afterwards call this offensive, actually a series of battles, after the name of the village that had become the last objective – 'Passchendaele'. In the Battle off Passchendaele, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Divisions captured Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October 1917. It was a vital victory. But, then it began to rain. Five days later the 2nd Australian Division suffered heavily in a further attack in the mud. Finally, on 12 October, another attack, involving the 3rd Division assisted by the 4th, was made against the village of Passchendaele atop the main ridge. In the face of heavy fire, the men fought in the mire while struggling to keep up with their artillery barrages. Ground was taken but it could not be held. In wretched conditions, with casualties mounting at an appalling rate, the Australians had to fall back. The troops were finally exhausted and could do no more; by 15 November they handed over to the Canadians.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on mate photographic paperReverse: 6523/ (A copyright and reproduction notice from the Australian War Museum, printed upside-down in blue ink)/military album, burke museum, beechworth, military vehicle, trenches, trench warfare, wwi, world war one, world war 1, ypres, belgium

This photograph depicts the third battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele). Depicted is a trench battlefield that has been turned to mud. One army tank vehicle has become stuck in the mud of the battlefield.After mid-1917, and following mutinies in the over-strained French Army, the British Forces had to assume an even greater role in the war on the Western Front. For Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, this provided an opportunity to launch an offensive that he had long wanted. Attacking from Ypres in Belgium, he planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding dominant ridges and even hoped to reach the Belgian coast. Following on the success at Messines in June, he unleashed his great attack on 31 July 1917. Fighting went on, often in appalling weather and despite crippling losses, until November. Finally, with the army stuck in muddy fields churned up by the artillery fire, the bloody offensive came to an untidy close. Many would afterwards call this offensive, actually a series of battles, after the name of the village that had become the last objective – 'Passchendaele'. In the Battle off Passchendaele, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Divisions captured Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October 1917. It was a vital victory. But, then it began to rain. Five days later the 2nd Australian Division suffered heavily in a further attack in the mud. Finally, on 12 October, another attack, involving the 3rd Division assisted by the 4th, was made against the village of Passchendaele atop the main ridge. In the face of heavy fire, the men fought in the mire while struggling to keep up with their artillery barrages. Ground was taken but it could not be held. In wretched conditions, with casualties mounting at an appalling rate, the Australians had to fall back. The troops were finally exhausted and could do no more; by 15 November they handed over to the Canadians.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on mate photographic paperReverse: 6524/ (A copyright and reproduction notice from the Australian War Museum, printed upside-down in blue ink)/military album, burke museum, beechworth, military vehicle, trenches, trench warfare, wwi, world war one, world war 1, ypres, belgium